Chapter Two
Giana
“Both of your wounds are healing well,” the doctor said, removing his latex gloves. “Just take it easy for a few more days.”
He lifted a brow, his attention pointedly zeroed in on Merrick. I covered my mouth to hide my smile.
“I’m going to go crazy if I have to stay in this damn bed one more day.” Merrick scrubbed a hand over his face.
“At least we’re not in the hospital anymore.” Despite my best efforts, a giggle slipped its way past my lips. “I swear you’d have even more injuries if those nurses had to put up with you for another day.”
“It’s not my fault they wouldn’t move me into your room.” A muscle twitched in his jaw as he pulled me closer. I nestled into his chest, draping the covers back over us now that the doctor was done with his check-up.
Thankfully the guys had a local doctor they trusted who made house calls for them, so we only stayed in the hospital for a few days.
“I’ll check in on you both in another week; take the antibiotics and keep the activity light.” The doctor left with a parting wave and closed the door behind him.
“I can’t believe you want me to stay here,” Merrick groaned.
“You were shot, Merrick.” He nipped at my earlobe, coaxing a laugh from me.
“And you were stabbed. You should have to stay with me.”
Merrick wrapped his arms around me, curling my head into his chest, but I didn’t miss the pained hiss he tried to hide.
“Yes, but mine wasn’t as deep. It’s basically healed by now, and I can still walk. You can’t even move without grimacing.”
“Are you two arguing over your injuries again?” Kellan huffed and pushed the door open with two steaming bowls of soup cradled in his hands.
The intoxicating aroma of salty broth and chicken filled my nostrils, and I was already salivating for the homemade meal.
At least one of us could cook, and Kellan was truly spoiling me while I recuperated with Merrick.
“No more soup. I’m so tired of soup. Can we have steak or something?” Merrick grumbled, subtly winking at me when Kellan had his back turned to him.
“Soup is good for Giana’s throat. I’ll make you something else for dinner.
” Kellan placed the bowls on each of our nightstands before placing a chaste kiss on my forehead.
“Besides, you’ve been spoiled enough with our girl in your bed all this week.
I don’t think you deserve gourmet meals on top of it. ”
“Don’t be jealous.” Merrick’s arm wrapped tighter around me like he thought Kellan might whisk me away. “She’s going to be with you all day now, since she just got the all clear from the doctor.”
“That’s great news.” Kellan pulled up a chair and sat beside me, his long, artistic fingers playing with the smooth strands of my hair.
“For you.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Kellan teased, trying to mimic Merrick’s deeper voice.
“Okay, okay. No getting in a fight when I’m in between you.” I gave them both a playful glare.
Kellan held my bowl of soup for me as I blew on a spoonful. A moan slipped from my lips when the delectable broth hit my tongue and rolled soothingly down my throat. Kellan and Merrick both groaned, their heated gazes roving over me, their minds clearly heading in a different direction.
“Delicious.” I grinned up at him. Pride shone in his sable eyes, his lips splitting in a delighted smile.
“It would be nice if someone could hold my bowl.” Merrick glared at Kellan.
“That would be nice.” Kellan’s lips twitched as he tried and failed to hide his amusement.
“Dick.”
Kellan smugly held the bowl for me as I took another spoonful, a giddy excitement bubbling in my stomach at the devotion gleaming in Kellan’s dark gaze.
“I can feed myself.” I had to protest a little, right?
“Just try to take this bowl from me.” He lifted a brow in challenge, intrigue sparking in his eyes.
I would play his game … if it wasn’t soup he was holding over me. Yeah, steaming hot broth is not something I want spilling all over me in bed.
I cut the thought before it headed in an entirely different direction.
“Can I just get a few minutes of peace?” Sophia’s voice rang through the closed door.
“They’re seriously still at it?” I scrubbed a hand down my face.
“The last time I took my eyes off you for a minute, you managed to get yourself abducted,” Zane shouted right back, his deep baritone making it sound like he was almost right outside in the hallway. “So no, I’m not letting you out of my sight for a moment.”
“They never stop.” Kellan sighed. “Eat some more before we head out.”
“You say that like it’s my fault,” Sophia said, rage filling every word. “How was I supposed to know they were outside waiting for me?”
The doorknob squeaked, and I scrunched my nose and whispered, “Please don’t come in here. Please don’t come in—”
“We told you that you were a target,” Zane said. “Why the hell did you think I was following you? Trust me, I can’t stand you. If I had a choice in this, I’d never lay eyes on you again.”
“Can you both calm down?” Sebastian sighed, trying to be the voice of reason. “You’re both going to say something you can’t come back from if you keep this up.”
“It’s too late for that,” Sophia snarled, pushing the door open and slamming it back in the men’s faces. She pressed her back to the door and clicked the lock, effectively cutting Zane off unless he broke down the door.
Which he better not.
“You better not be having kinky sex in here.” Sophia grinned mischievously, but it didn’t quite meet her eyes. There was a shadow behind her feigned nonchalance that spoke volumes. Zane’s words had hit their mark.
“So everything would be good if we were having regular sex?” I chuckled, needing to help my friend find her footing again. I’d smash Zane’s skull with a bat if he kept on hurting her, regardless of whether or not he was on our side.
“You know what I mean.” She waved me off and skipped to the end of the bed, nestling herself so close she was practically in my lap.
“Do I get a say in this?” Merrick frowned, his shoulders already slumping in defeat. “This is my room after all.”
“What’s yours is Giana’s, and she’s happy for me to hang out, right, Gi?” Sophia fluttered her lashes up at me before slicing a cutting glare Merrick’s way. “Besides, don’t I get any brownie points for helping drag your asses out of there?”
“You do.” Kellan sighed.
“Which you’ve been taking full advantage of for the last week. There has to be an expiration sometime soon.” Merrick crossed his arms over his chest. “We need some alone time with our girl.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be on bed rest anyway?” Sophia narrowed her eyes in suspicion, and his jaw twitched.
“Yes, he is,” I said before he tried to kick her out. “But I got the all clear from the doctor.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Merrick grumbled as Kellan nudged the bowl closer to me.
“You’re just jealous.” I ignored Kellan’s prodding, which backfired when he plucked the spoon from my grip and shoved the broth-laden utensil into my mouth.
“Ah, I see. Is that why he’s still spoon-feeding you?” Sophia pursed her lips, attempting to hold back her laughter, but it came sputtering out anyway.
“Give me back that spoon,” I huffed, aiming a glare at my supposed friend. “This is what I get for having your back.”
“No using your utensils for nefarious purposes.” Kellan shoved another spoonful of soup into my mouth. “You might not be on bed rest anymore, but you still need to take it easy.”
“Pfft. It would take little to no effort to give her one whack.” I reluctantly let Kellan feed me again, knowing how ridiculous we must look.
“Take pity on me. I was kidnapped after all.” Sophia flopped back onto me dramatically, the back of her hand on her forehead. She played it off as a joke, but the thunderous thud of her heart when her back rested against my chest told another story.
My amusement evaporated in a second as I exchanged a look with Kellan and Merrick, who paused eating his lunch.
“Don’t give me that look. I’m fine.” Tension laced her words.
She was holding everything back, not yet fully processing what had happened to her.
I could tell since I did the same thing after Mountain Mike took me and after my near-death experience with Tommaso.
My emotions were like rushing rapids, blocked by a dam.
Some were getting through the barrier, but since we were still stuck in a life-or-death war with the Barones, there wasn’t time to let the barrage thoroughly wash over me.
For right now all I could let myself focus on was the fact that we were all alive, and Tommaso wasn’t.
“You’re not. Hell, none of us are fine, but I get it.
” I wrapped my arms around her, and she latched onto me like I was the only tether keeping her from floating out into the treacherous depths of the sea.
“All I can focus on is taking care of Angelo and destroying their empire once and for all. We can deal with the rest once we’re out of flight or fight and have a chance to wrap our minds around it all. ”
Kellan pursed his lips, while Merrick’s jaw ticked.
There was so much we all needed to work through, but one person had to face their demons sooner rather than later.
Spade’s flirty quips and possessive touches were buried beneath a layer of grief so thick that I couldn’t break through the near impenetrable mass that weighed him down.
He spent most of his time in East Haven, obsessively watching Angelo and his men, ready to sacrifice himself as the first line of defense if they even made the slightest act of retaliation.
Even when we were in the same room, I felt as if there was an insurmountable, vast sea stretching between us.
I knew why the fire and my near-death hit him the hardest … but the opportunity to console and reassure him I was alive, safe, and that I’d never leave him wasn’t possible with both Merrick and me on bedrest and Spade’s fixation on Angelo.